SOMERSWORTH — Robert Crichton, chairman of the Somersworth Housing Authority Board of Commissioners, said Thursday nothing has changed regarding Elizabeth Salinger, executive director of the SHA, continuing to be on paid leave.

Since December, Salinger has been collecting her $82,000 annual salary plus benefits after being put on a paid leave of absence. According to Crichton, Salinger is on leave due to the unfinished investigation into the theft of $920,000 over a six-year span by former SHA Finance Director Lisa Reid, now deceased.

Attorney Joseph McKittrick, who was hired by the SHA to dissect exactly what went wrong to allow the theft to occur, has not been able to be reached for questioning.

Recently, Mckittrick said the process is not a simple one and there are a number of documents to review and SHA personnel to interview — in this case, multiple times.

McKittrick also previously noted this was a case in which “Salinger was not directly involved with the embezzlement.” Rather, she performed her duties properly as executive director. McKittrick previously stressed he is not implying anyone at the housing authority was criminally responsible other than Reid.

According to Crichton, as soon as he knows something he will keep all informed.

“It's a lengthy process, one that takes time and patience,” Crichton said Thursday.

The SHA Board says they have all been working together to pick up the pieces.

Martin Dumont, who previously served as the SHA hearing officer for 11 years, has recently been appointed to the board of commissioners and will be working with new systems that provide significant checks and balances, Crichton said.

Foster's questioned Dumont on how the SHA can afford to keep Salinger on paid leave after the thefts.

“Trust me, the commission is very cognizant of this. We are moving forward but we still have things hanging over our heads,” Dumont said recently. “I can assure you we have more than one set of eyes on the finances now,” he added.

Assistant Director Deborah Evans, who Crichton says has “stepped up to the plate” to take on Salinger's duties, has not received a pay increase, Crichton said.

Although Crichton could not go into legal specifics about the case he did comment recently the authority has not officially appointed Evans as its new director, but that it may be possible down the road.

On Dec. 6, 2011, Reid was fired from her job as SHA fiscal director after admitting the theft to Salinger. Reid was found dead the following morning in her home from an apparent drug overdose.

The auditor's report on the thefts states Reid processed checks written to herself on the check stock of certain checking accounts of the authority. It also claimed Reid endorsed the checks by scanning signatures from other legitimate checks and then printing them on the checks generated from her personal computer.

An October report — conducted by the firm Hurley, O'Neill & Company of Quincy, Mass. — ultimately cited a lack of internal controls that could have prevented the SHA's former fiscal director from stealing the funds.

“Management and the Board of Commissioners have not operated a control environment conducive to the prevention and detection of fraud and illegal acts as evidenced by fraud perpetrated by a former employee,” one section of the report reads.

The investigation continues into exactly what assets the Reid family may still possess as a result of Reid's actions. These potentially include Florida time-shares and condominiums, a Jeep, a recreational vehicle and an online trading account, as well as funds placed into the family furniture business.

“We cannot comment about certain things and interfere with the investigation,” Crichton said recently. “We are not trying to destroy anyone's well being. This has to run its course.”